Children's Museum relocation foes form coalition

Opponents of the Chicago Children's Museum's move to Grant Park announced a coalition of their own Monday and a petition drive.

[Guy Fawkes]

Here here! Let organized opposition commence!

Da mn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!

[ChgoMer]

Where do I sign?

[A Nonny Mouse]

Are they selling the t-shirts on-line? They should consider it...

[Brian]

Where do I sign up?

[Nopublicland4pri vatehands]

ChgoMer wrote:

Where do I sign?

Go to www.savegrantpark.org and sign the online petition

[JML]

ChgoSaint wrote:

What is the name of their coalition? The KKK?

What???

[Ephram]

You say that many of the opponents of the disgusting Children's Museum board may live across the street but even more live in other parts of the city, including us miles away. Why? Because we know this is just the beginning. If they take away this part of Grant Park, it won't be long before the rest of it is gone. There will be nothing to stop turning Grant Park into another Coney Island. The CCM is bad enough, a gargantuan commercial enterprise in the quiet pristine tree-and-grass environment of Grant Park. Once the precedent is set, goodbye park space in downtown Chicago. Lincoln Park will be next; in fact, the land grab there has already begun.

[JML]

Ephram wrote:

You say that many of the opponents of the disgusting Children's Museum board may live across the street but even more live in other parts of the city, including us miles away. Why? Because we know this is just the beginning. If they take away this part of Grant Park, it won't be long before the rest of it is gone. There will be nothing to stop turning Grant Park into another Coney Island. The CCM is bad enough, a gargantuan commercial enterprise in the quiet pristine tree-and-grass environment of Grant Park. Once the precedent is set, goodbye park space in downtown Chicago. Lincoln Park will be next; in fact, the land grab there has already begun.

At least the construction work on the Latin School's soccer field in Lincoln Park has been stopped -- for now.

http://www.topix.net/forum/source/chicago-tri...

[Radian]

At its core, this whole issue is a play for the Pritzkers to set themselves as the next great Chicago benefactors. Their dream is to see their family name right up there next to the Fields, Palmers, McCormicks, etc. They couldn't care less about the city or the best interests of the citizens.

[Charles in Chicago]

This is wonderful - Great Work!

[Joe]

Brian wrote:

Where do I sign up?

Go to www.savegrantpark.org and sign the online petition

[Logan Square]

Has anyone noted that the existing Childrens Museum isn't worth the $9 they charge. Its no more than a tourist trap. I'm sure it will cost more once it moved to Grant Park and it will still be a tourist trap. Just with a better location.

[Ann]

NOT IN MY FRONT YARD!! Save the ugly building that stands there now!!

[Art in Chicago]

I haven't lived in Chicago very long, and don't really have an opinion about the Children's Museum. I see the Art Institute finishing its Modern Wing, consuming yet another block of park space - I wonder if Mr. Ward ever imagined the AIC complex as it looks today?

Maybe the Children's Museum should become a branch of the Art Institute - then nobody would care if they built another building in the park.

I also understand another reality of Chicago politics - what King Richard II wants, he usually gets. If he wants the Children's Museum in the park, it will be built in the park.

[margaret hageman]

Why not put the Museum in Block 37? It's more centrally located than Grant Park.

[Nopublicland4pri vatehands]

Ann wrote:

NOT IN MY FRONT YARD!! Save the ugly building that stands there now!!

Keep up those great quips, Ann!

Love,
Hill & Knowlton

[Guy Fawkes]

Art in Chicago wrote:

I haven't lived in Chicago very long, and don't really have an opinion about the Children's Museum. I see the Art Institute finishing its Modern Wing, consuming yet another block of park space - I wonder if Mr. Ward ever imagined the AIC complex as it looks today?
Maybe the Children's Museum should become a branch of the Art Institute - then nobody would care if they built another building in the park.
I also understand another reality of Chicago politics - what King Richard II wants, he usually gets. If he wants the Children's Museum in the park, it will be built in the park.

The new wing did NOT take additional park space.

The new Art Institute wing is on land that AI has owned from it's inception. The Goodman Theatre at one time was located on the land the new wing is building on.

An exception was granted ONCE by A Montgomery Ward at the time of the AI's inception.

With regard to the CCM...it is a joke of a "museum" anyway...and should remain at its carnival-like location at touristville Navy Pier.

[Save Grant Park]

Get out there on Thursday May 15th to the City Hall Plan Commission Hearing at 1:00pm. Show your support for KEEPING Grant Park a park! It is important we have a big turnout. No to CCM land GRAB.

Remember, this is NOT about the children at all, rather the wealthy and powerful.

New York would not let this happen to Central Park and we've already got much less green space. Enough is enough, we have to say NO.

[Yellow Dog Democrat]

We already have a children's museum in the Loop. Its called the Field Museum, and they serve 400,000 children a year - more than the Chicago Children's "museum":

From the Field Museum website:

As an educational institution the Field Museum offers multiple opportunities for both informal and more structured public learning. Exhibits remain the primary means of informal education, but throughout its history the Museum has supplemented this approach with innovative educational programs. The Harris Loan Program, for example, begun in 1912, provides educational outreach to children, bringing artifacts, specimens, audiovisual materials, and activity kits to Chicago area schools. The Department of Education, begun in 1922, offers a changing program of classes, lectures, field trips, museum overnights and special events for families, adults and children.

Oh yeah, and we already have a children's museum that integrates learning and play, too. Its called the Museum of Science and Industry, and it serves 1.67 million guests a year, including 280,000 school children just from organized field trips.

And, unlike the Chicago Children's "museum", The Field and Museum of Science and Industry are accredited.

[Nopublicland4pri vatehands]

Fools wrote:

The "new building" will simply replace the park district building. The CCM is going UNDERGROUND WHERE THERE'S CURRENTLY A PARKING GARAGE.
You fools, are you really this stupid? Or is this just how you justify your racism for public comsumption?
Save the underground parking garage and keep those minorities out of our neighborhoods!

Fool,

That was a good one!

Love,
Hill & Knowlton